GROUP RECOGNITION AND PROFILING

• US 20130047175A1
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Davis, Mark Charles, Strazisar, Bradley Park, Kelso, Scott Edwards, Perrin, Steven Richard, Zhou, Yi, Locker, Howard J., Zawacki, Jennifer Greenwood, Ramirez Flores, Axel, Li, Jian, Zhang, Jianbang
• Granted Patent: US 9,520,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18

Abstract

A system can include storage for identification data for individuals; an interface configured to receive image data; recognition circuitry configured to recognize individuals using received image data and stored identification data; grouping circuitry configured to define groups based on recognized individuals; assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences to defined groups; and output circuitry configured to output preferred media information based on assigned media consumption preferences of a defined group of recognized individuals. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

storage for identification data for individuals;

an interface configured to receive image data;

recognition circuitry configured to recognize individuals using received image data and stored identification data;

grouping circuitry configured to define groups based on recognized individuals;

assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences to defined groups; and

output circuitry configured to output preferred media information based on assigned media consumption preferences of a defined group of recognized individuals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage for identification data for individuals comprises storage for facial data.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface configured to receive image data comprises a wired or a wireless interface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface configured to receive image data comprises one or more camera interfaces configured to receive still images, to receive video images, or to receive still images and video images.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences to defined groups comprises blending circuitry configured to blend media consumption preferences for combinations of defined groups.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the system comprises location circuitry configured to spatially locate recognized individuals.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the location circuitry comprises circuitry configured to locate recognized individuals in an environment wherein the environment comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of a room, furniture, time of day, time zone, natural lighting, artificial lighting, noise, neighborhood, address, room size, temperature, and humidity.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the location circuitry configured to spatially locate recognized individuals comprises circuitry configured to locate individuals with respect to each other.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences to defined groups accounts for location of individuals with respect to each other in a defined group.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the recognition circuitry comprises facial recognition circuitry.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the system comprises circuitry configured to locate a remote control and to associate a remote control with an individual.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising input circuitry configured to receive input of information for individuals and to receive input of information for groups of individuals.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences to defined groups comprises circuitry configured to access one or more remote databases that comprise media information.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the output circuitry configured to output media information based on assigned media consumption preferences of a defined group of recognized individuals comprises an output interface configured to output selectable preferred media for rendering to a screen for consumption by the defined group.

15. A method comprising:

identifying a group of individuals located in front of a screen using a camera and facial recognition circuitry;

associating the group with media consumption preferences; and

based on the associating, rendering selectable preferred media choices to the screen.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising identifying a new group of individuals located in front of the screen;

associating the new group with media consumption preferences; and

, based on the associating, rendering selectable preferred media choices to the screen.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising, based on the associating, automatically rendering preferred media to the screen for consumption by the group.

18. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to:

define a group based on a list of individuals;

assign media consumption preferences to defined groups of individuals; and

responsive to recognition of individuals that define a group, output preferred media choices, the preferred media choices selectable, via a graphical user interface, for rendering to a display for consumption by the group.

19. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 18 comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to receive media selections from a group and, based thereon, to assign revised media consumption preferences to the group.

20. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 18 comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to restrict preferred media choices for a group based on age of an individual in a list of individuals that define the group.